Physical therapy specializes in the rehabilitation of patients who have limited or no mobility following an injury, sickness or loss of a body part. Physical therapy programs utilize special physical therapy products and exercises to treat and prevent prolonged physical disability. More so, according to the Applegate Clinic of Chiropractic, physical therapy is defined as the “treatment of a body region using heat/cold treatments, water, traction, hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation, massage, therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular reeducation, etc.” (http://www.applegatechiropractic.com/).

Proper physical therapy products are essential when providing physical therapy programs and exercises for patients. There are several physical therapy products to choose from. Below are some supplies and products used by a physical therapist:

Dry Hydrotherapy Beds:

part of a physical therapy program that combines water, heat and massage in a single unit allowing patients to remain clothed and dry. Dry Hydrotherapy beds provide deep tissue massage and may be customized to provide a specific, prescribed therapy to each physical therapy patient. To learn more about AquaMED Dry Hydrotherapy beds, click here.

Exercise band:

a physical therapy product that is a type of strong, rubber band which provides resistance exercise to help strengthen weak muscles. The band can be used alone or with other therapies.

Electrical Stimulation:

a physical therapy product that uses electric current to stimulate the muscles to contract; thus strengthening the muscle.

Doctors of Osteopathic are similar to MDs in that they are licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medications. The American Osteopathic Association, defines the Osteopathic philosophy as “a strong emphasis on the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones and organs, doctors of osteopathic medicine, or D.O.s, apply the philosophy of treating the whole person to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness, disease and injury” (http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ado_whatis.org).

Osteopathic Equipment

Many Osteopaths use equipment that is equivalent or very similar to physical therapy equipment (as seen above). However, osteopathic physician equipment may also consist of:

Manipulation tables:

According to the American Osteopathic Association, a manipulation is defined as a “therapeutic application of manual force”. A manipulation table is an osteopathic piece of equipment that patients lie upon to receive this type of therapy.